I was in Providence, R.I. the other day. The Providence Fire Dept is an Excellent department. They are very active and do see their share of work. Some huge 3 1/2 story frames and Queen Anns line some of those very crowded streets. It's been a favorite dept of mine for a long time.
Just some interesting facts that I would like to pass along. They are currently training a probie class of 55 new members. That is actually quite a lot for that city. Usually it's maybe 20 or 30. I guess it's about a 500 member department. They are still short another 50, so until the first group completes their training that puts them short by roughly 20 %.
The probie training last six months. They are taught everything from EMT to Engine and Ladder truck operator. When they finish that probie school, they are EMTs and may be required to drive any piece of apparatus within the dept. In the beginning they must complete Firefighter I and a live burn. Once that happens, they are assigned to ride one night a week throughout the various companies. Their current drill tower and burn building has been declared UNSAFE for use, so they have been making the trip to the City of Boston to use theirs. Another interesting fact is that for the six month probie school, the members are only paid minimum wage. Some with families have to apply for food stamps, and it's been like that for as long as anybody can remember.
In addition, the Boston Fire Dept has donated a rearmount ladder truck to the City of Providence for use in training. Being in Providence and seeing a Boston Ladder truck with the words "Boston Fire Department" on it is pretty unusual. I believe that truck is an E-One (rearmount), and all Providence Ladder trucks are similiar. I get the impression that money is pretty tight in Providence. No money to fix their training tower/burn building. No new rigs in the last few years that I've seen. Not even new police cars.
A few members have been detailed to assist the Training Division while this training is going on. One member from their Engine 3 with 13 years on told me "it's been crazy, we're doing about 5,000 runs a year". Engine 3 is out of Fire Headquarters in downtown Providence, and I believe they are one of the busiest in the city and maybe New England.
Just some interesting facts that I would like to pass along. They are currently training a probie class of 55 new members. That is actually quite a lot for that city. Usually it's maybe 20 or 30. I guess it's about a 500 member department. They are still short another 50, so until the first group completes their training that puts them short by roughly 20 %.
The probie training last six months. They are taught everything from EMT to Engine and Ladder truck operator. When they finish that probie school, they are EMTs and may be required to drive any piece of apparatus within the dept. In the beginning they must complete Firefighter I and a live burn. Once that happens, they are assigned to ride one night a week throughout the various companies. Their current drill tower and burn building has been declared UNSAFE for use, so they have been making the trip to the City of Boston to use theirs. Another interesting fact is that for the six month probie school, the members are only paid minimum wage. Some with families have to apply for food stamps, and it's been like that for as long as anybody can remember.
In addition, the Boston Fire Dept has donated a rearmount ladder truck to the City of Providence for use in training. Being in Providence and seeing a Boston Ladder truck with the words "Boston Fire Department" on it is pretty unusual. I believe that truck is an E-One (rearmount), and all Providence Ladder trucks are similiar. I get the impression that money is pretty tight in Providence. No money to fix their training tower/burn building. No new rigs in the last few years that I've seen. Not even new police cars.
A few members have been detailed to assist the Training Division while this training is going on. One member from their Engine 3 with 13 years on told me "it's been crazy, we're doing about 5,000 runs a year". Engine 3 is out of Fire Headquarters in downtown Providence, and I believe they are one of the busiest in the city and maybe New England.